Miner&#39;s cap



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,776

E N. GALANIS llIiIERS CAP Original Filed Jan.5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z")? G'alazuld Dec. 13, 19 27.

E. N. GALANIS MINERS CAP Original Filed Jan. 5, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwoentoz I anon Patented Dec. 13, i927.

FICE.

- EMANUEL v. (mums; or NEW ronx, N. Y.

MINEBB CAP.

n efiled for abandoned application Serial No. 610,837, flied January 5, 1923. -This application filed January 11,1927. Serial No. 160,512.

This invention relates to improvements in miners caps and has as one of its primary objects to provide a cap the crown of which will be of such construction as to effectually protect the head and preventinjury thereto through falling lumps of coal or ore, falling timbers, dbris, and the like. The invention also contemplates so constructing the crown of the cap that injury to the head.

will be prevented should the miner come in contact with a beam or timber or any other unyielding object.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the crown of the cap that its top portion will possess gradually increasing degrees'of yieldability and resiliency from the exterior to the interior so that while the exterior of the crown is capable of effectually resisting impacts andreceives the greatest force of impact, the inner portion of the crown, or in other words the portion next to and in contact with the head of the wearer,

will be more yieldable and resilient thus finally absorbing the shock of impact and at the. same time rendering the cap -comfort- ,able to wear.

' Another object ofthe invention is to so construct the capthat the wearer. will be protected from shocks and injuries which might otherwise result from his head coming in contact with exposed electric wires or other conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap which will not only, protect the skull but also, in one embodiment, will alford protection for the back of the neck so that practically all vital parts will be afforded the necessary protection.

Another object of the invention is to generally so construct the cap that it will be comparatively light in weight and substantially as comfortable to wear as the ordinary miners cap which embodies no protective device in its structure.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the-cap that it may be made practically in a standard size and readily adapted .to fit the head of the purchaser regardless of head measurements, within reasonable limits. Another object of the invention is to provide for the.union of the usual lamp; supporting-member with the cap in such a manner as to insureagainst any impairment of of the yieldability and cushioning effectiveness of the cap, by reason of the presence of said means.-

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cap embodying the invention illustrating the manner in which the same is to be worn under working conditions;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation, the face protecting flaps being arranged in inactive position; I

Figure 3 is a detail vertical front to rear sectional view through the cap;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the pneumatic cushioning medium of the cap before assemblage with the other parts comprising the Figure 5 1s a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in an upward direction;"

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view illustrating a portion of the crown structure;

Figure 7 is a detail transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 2.

The crown of the cap is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and comprises two sections, one of which, indicated in general by the numeral 2, constitutes a cushioned protective covering for the top of the head, and the other section, indicated by the numeral 3, constitutes a band section to surround the head. The said upper section 2 comprises a sheila which is preferably formed of sole leather, vulcanized fiber, or any other relatively stilf' material either molded or otherwise shaped to dome-like form and embodying atop portion 5 and a depending circumferential portion 6 which latter is stitched at its lower margin, as at 7, to the upper margin of the body of the band section 3, the two sections of the cap being in this manner permanently connected together. The upper section of the crown further comprises a 'shell' '8 which may be formed from fiber,- sole leather, or any other relatively stifi' material and ressed or otherwise shaped to approximate ioo ' 4 depending circumferential portion of the said shell 8 will fit snugly within the circumfereritial portion 6 of the shell 4, these two parts being united by stitching or'otherwise. The numeral 11 indicates a number of coil compression springs which are arranged within the space between the shells 4 and 8, and also arranged within this space and in;

terspersed with the said springs are yieldable cushioning elements 12 preferably in the form of small ,pillars of semi-soft rubber, the pillars being united at their ends to the opposing surfaces of the shells, in any suitable manner. k

'The'numeral 13 ludicates in general another shell which is positioned within the shell 8 andcomprises a top portion 14 and a depending circumferential portion 15, this shell being made of leather or other material possessing a medium degree of flexibillty.

The stitches which unite the depending circumferential portion 10 of the shell 8 with the corresponding portion of the shell 4 also unite the depending portion 15 of the shell 14 with the two first-men: tioned shells, as indicated by the numeral 16. The shell 13 is of less height than the shell 8 so that its top portion 14 will be spaced below the top portion 9 of-the said s ell 8 so as to provide a compartment within which certain cushioning means is housed. One of themeans employed is indicated 1nneral by the numeral 17 and comprises a tube 18 which is of suitable length and of gradually tapered from said endtowards its soft rubber, and is closedat 'one end and I opposite end, which latter end is supplied with an inflating valve 19; The tube 18 is wound to spiral formto provide a substantiallyflat pneumatic cushion, the major end of the tube being located at the center-of the cushion and the minor or smaller end thereof being extended through openings 20 in the shells 4 and 8, and the valve 19 thus held in positionwhere access may be convenient,

ly had thereto for the urpose of inflating the tube. The tube, in-- orming the cushioning body 17, is wound spirally as stated, and

' upon the upper surface of the top portion 14 of the shell 13, and the said cushion is retrained upon the shell by means of tapes 21 which are 100 ed over the coils of the tube ,is indicated in general by the numeral 22 and are passe through openings in the top portion of the shell 13 and through the corresponding portion of a lining shell which and which will hereinafter be more fully described, .the ends of the tapes being tied in a knot, as at 2 beneath the underside of the said shell 2 Of course, any suitable 'pump' may be employed for inflating the tube 18 and the tube may be-inflated to any presently explained, a stri any other suitable materia is disposed diagdesired pressure. For a purpose. to' be 24 of leather or ioning medium 17 and is cemented at its ends to the coils of thetube 18 comprising the said cushion, the intermediate portion of the strip being, however, left disconnected from the'tube and being formed with. a slot 25 for a purpose to be" presently pointed out. I I

The lamp support for the cap is indicated in general bythe numeral 26 and the same may be. formed froma stiff piece of soleleather, fiber orthe" like,'disposed and Secured at one end upon the upper side of the visor 27 of the cap as indicated by the numeral 28, the supporting member including a portion 29 which upstands in front ofthe crown of the cap, and a portion 30 which extendsi'earwardlyirom the upper end of the supportingportion 29 and through slots 31 and 32 formed; in the front portionsof the shells 4and 8 respectively. 'VVhere'the J supporting member 26 is formed ofsole leather or the like it will be skived, as, at 33, at'a P011111 rearwardly of the opening 32 so as to form a lip toengage against the inner slde of the said shell 8 and thus prevent forward displacement of the portion 30 of the said supporting member. From the opening 32 the said portion 30 extends ina rearward direction diametrically across the upper side of the cushion 17' and at its rear end is projected through a slot'34 for'medin Y the shell 8,-this end of the said portion 30 being also skived' asat '35. to provide a lip engaging against therearouter side iof'the said shell 8 and being in this manner anchoreoh- A cushion 36 'otsoftor sponge rubber is arranged within the space between the under siderof the top 9 of the shell 8 and the upper sides of the cushion 17 and ;por tion 30 of the lamp supporting member, and

an anchoring element 37 is secured through the intermediate portion of the top 9 of the said shell 8 and extends through the 'slot 25 in the strip 24 and through a similar slot 38in the portion'30 of the lamp supporting member, the said portion 30. extending 'bei neath the said strip 24 as clearly shown-in Figure?) of the drawings In thismanner, the parts are connected together and re strained against relative displacement without, however, detracting from their ."yieldability. Moreover, the lamp'sup'port is anchored within the cap in such a manner as to fofin an additional reiniforcement 'forfthe;

cap and also 'very effectually sustain the weight of the lamp without distorting the cap or pulling-away. therefrom. In order. to 4 i suitably anchor the central'portion of the cushioning pad 36, ron'gs 39 are securedare embedded n thefsaid cushioning pad 36 through the to port1on 9 of theshell 8 and I as'shown in Figure 5. The, outer portions of.

the cushioning pad? 36 and the cushion 17 are anchored against displacement by means of anchoring. elements 40 which are secured through the top portion 9 ofthe shell 8 and extend through the outer marginal portion ofthe cushioning pad 36 and have their lower ends bent and engaged, as at 41, throu h loops 42 provided upon the coils of t e tube 18. Y

The shell 22 heretofore referred to is of less height than-the shell 13 within which it is arranged and therefore its top portion, which is indicated by the numeral 43, is spaced below the top portion 14 of the said shell 13. its depending marginal portion 44 being secured by stitches 16 to the marginal portions of the other shells. The shell 22, as previously stated, constitutesthe lining shell and may be made of any suitable wate proof material such as water proofed canvas or leather and is relatively flexible, and in the space between the top portion of this shell and the top portion 14 of the shell 13, there is arranged a padding 45 of felt or any other suitable adding material.

A sheet 46 of rubber or any other suitable flexible insulating material is preferably arranged within the shell 13 and between the inner surface thereof and the padding 45 and serves to insulate and protect. the head of the wearer ofthe cap in the event the crown of the cap comes in contact with an exposed electrical conductor.

A head band section 3 of the cap is preferably of leather-of a relatively flexible quality and is provided interiorly with a sweat' band indicated by the numeral 47. It will be observed that a space is provided between the sweat band 47 and the lower edges of the depending circumferential portions of the several shells heretofore described with which space ventilating eyelets 48 are in communication so as to afford ample venti-. lation within the cap. To adapt a single standard size of cap for application to persons who would otherwise require-different sizes ofcaps, the head band section 3 is formed at the rear with an incision 49 to provide overlapping end portions'50, one of whichhas lacing eyelets 51 secured therein. The other portion 50 has secured'upon it a lacing flap 52 likewise provided with eyelets indicated by the numeral 53, and a lacing string 54 is suitably threaded through the eyelets 51 and 53and may be adjusted to vary the diameter of the section 3.

In order to protect the back of the neck and base of the skull, a protecting apron 55 is attached at its upper edge, as' at 56, to the lower margin of the head band section 3 of the cap at the rear side thereof and depends rearwardly ot the back of theheadand neck as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. If desired this apron may be forined with a V-shaped incision, 57 at the point of location of the incision 49 in the head band section 3 so as to not interfere .with adjustment of the said sbction 3 to various diameters. The protective apron 55 may be made of relatively stitf leather orany other material found suitable for the purpose and will aflord a degree of protection from falling lumps of coal or thelike. However, if desired and if the apron should be intended merely as a protection from contherefrom -as shown clearly in Figure 1 of" the drawings. The tree lower margins of these aprons are provided with the elements of snap fasteners 59 and by reference .to Fig- -ure 2 it will be observed that when the aprons are not required to be used they may be turned up over the top of the cap and the fastener elements 59 engaged to retain theaprons in this position.

.From the foregoing description of the invention-it will be understood that inasmuch as the shells 4 and 8 are of relatively stiti' material and the cushioning elements 11 and 12 interposed therehetween are yieldable although capable of offering some appreciable resistance to impact, the exterior ortion of the crown of the cap will be capa le of effectually absorbing the initial shock of impact 'in the event of a mishap. The cushion 36 of sponge rubber, and the pneumatic cushion l7, possess a higher degree of yieldability and resiliency and therefore are adapted to practically absorb the force of impact which is not absorbed or taken up by the elements l1'and'12 and the shells 4 and 8. Finally the padding 45 of felt or other soft material will perform effectually its function of cushioning the top of the skull and further absorbing the residual force of impact shell 4.

It is at present customary for miners to carry storage batteries and to'have' their delivered initially to the caps equipped with electric lamps, wires being led from the storage battery to the lamp,

and in order that conductor wires may be ,most conveniently retained, in place soasnot to. cause annoyance to the wearer of the cap, it is preferable that [a short leather strap 60 be secured at one-end, as at 61 to the permit of the introduction of the conductor is claimed as new is 1. A cap having a crown forming the outermost member of the cap and embodying a relatively still and non-yielding outer shell, a relatively flexible and yieldable inner shell SQCllICfhlb its margin to the outer shell, andcushioning media arranged in superposed relation between the shells and of increasin de rees Yof resilienc in a deseending order.

'2. A cap having a" crown forming the outermost member'ot the cap and embodying a relatively stifl and non-yielding outer shell, a relatively flexible and yieldable inner shell secured at its margin to the outer shell, and cushioning mediabetween the shells" arranged in superposed relation, the media nearer the first-mentioned shell pos- 'sessing minimum degree of yieldability, and

the media nearer the second-mentioned shell possessing maximumedegree of yieldability.

3. A cap having a crown forming the outermost member of the cap and embody-'- ing an outer shell of relatively stiff and nonyielding material, an inn'r shellarranged within the first mentioned shell and of a similar material and secured at its margin; to the outer shell, spaced rubber spacing and v cushioning elements arranged withinthe space between the shells and extending between their opposing faces, and a relatlvely yieldable cushion within the inner shell.

4. A'cap having a crown forming the outermost member. of the cap andembodying an outer shell of relat-ively stiff and nonyield-ing material, an innershellsarranged within-the first-mentioned shell and of a similar material and secured at its margin to the outershell, spaced rubber spacing and cushioning-elements arranged within the space between the shells and extending bewithiii the inner shell. 5. A cap having a crown forming the outermost member of the cap and embodying a plurality of shells arranged one within another and constituting the top of the crown, said shells being secured together at their margins and cushioning media arranged between the several shells, the medium nearer the outermost shell comprising alternating resilient and elasticelements of a minor degree of ieldability, the next lower medium comprising a layer of soft rubber, the next medium comprising apneumatic cushion, and the next and lowermost medium comprising a pad of felt.

6., A cap having a crown embodying a plurality of superposed cushioning media in its top, a visor, and a lamp supporting member secured to the visor and having a portion upstanding in front of the crownand another portion extending into the crown in a. reaTrward direction between adjacent media and anchored within the crown. fl

7. A cap having a crown embodying a plurality of superposed layers of cushioning media 1n its top, and a lamp carrler on the front of thecap and having a portion exctending rearwardly through the front of the cap and between two layers of cushioning media and provided with projections on its side to engage adjacent portions of' the crown and prevent withdrawal.

- 8; A cap-having a crown, a plurality'of superposed shells secured within the crown, cushioning media between the shells, an intermediate one of said media consisting-of a Wound pneumatic tube, fastenlng devices engaged with said tube and extending through the superposedmedia to connect the tube with an upper shell, and fastening devices engaged with the tube and passing through a subjacent media to connectthe tube with a lower shell.

This specification signed this 10th day of January, A. D. 1927.

EMANUEL N. GALANIS. 

